Leo Stan Ekeh (Chairman, Zinox Group)
The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has appealed to the Federal Government and African leaders to halt the prevailing xenophobic attacks by South Africans against fellow Africans in the country.
NICASA President, Frank Onyekwelu, made the appeal following the incessant harassment, intimidation and the brutal killing of foreign nationals in South Africa in a statement on Monday.
Onyekwelu expressed concern over the targeted harassment and reported instances of police brutality against Nigerian citizens and other African nationals in South Africa.
According to him, the spate of such violent crime requires urgent intervention to avoid escalation.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders overseeing the affairs of Nigerians abroad to wade in early enough to halt the attacks.
Onyekwelu said, “We are alarmed by the increasing normalisation of hostility, manifested through inflammatory rhetorics by certain political actors, unlawful intimidation, and discriminatory enforcement practices by some law enforcement personnel.
“These actions not only undermine human dignity, but also threaten the long standing bonds of African solidarity.
“On behalf of the Nigerian community, I appeal to President Tinubu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives to act with urgency, firmness, and strategic diplomacy in tackling these developments.”
The NICASA President stressed that the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad is not optional but a constitutional and moral obligation.
According to him, silence or delayed responses only reinforces the dangerous and false narrative that Nigerians in the diaspora are abandoned by their own government.
Onyekwelu also suggested the establishment of a transparent mechanism for reporting, documenting, and addressing cases of abuse, harassment, and xenophobic violence.
He called for accountability for any law enforcement officers found culpable in acts of brutality or discrimination in the host country.
This, he suggested, would serve as a deterrent and ensure the safety and welfare of citizens globally.
“Nigerians in South Africa are law-abiding, economically contributing, and socially integrated members of society. The reckless stereotyping and collective criminalization of our people must stop.
“The clear efforts and community intervention of the Nigerian Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, has lightened up hope and shown that we still have concerned and committed mission whose efforts and actions need more governmental backing.
“NICASA reiterates its commitment to peace, lawful conduct, and constructive engagement within our host nation. We urge compatriots to remain calm, vigilant, and compliant with the laws of South Africa, while we pursue diplomatic and institutional remedies,” he said.
He further said: “We also urge all African leaders to work closely together in ending the current trend of intra-African hostility that is unacceptable and unsustainable.
“We call for a united continental response through the African Union and regional blocs to confront and dismantle the structures, narratives, and policies that fuel this growing intolerance.”
According to him, Africa cannot rise while Africans are divided against themselves, adding that xenophobia is a direct contradiction of the vision of continental integration and shared prosperity.
He stressed that Africa’s unity is not just a slogan, but one of necessity and that the need for peaceful coexistence across the continent is not optional, but one of shared responsibility.
“NICASA remains resolute in advocating for justice, dignity, and the protection of every Nigerian in Diaspora,” he added
